Society for Threatened Peoples (STP)

In an unprecedented move, a qualified majority of EU member states today approved the controversial trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur. Never before in European trade history has a trade agreement been adopted by the EU Council without the approval of such large countries as France or Poland. This approach is likely to further fuel anti-European sentiment, especially since this is a highly controversial agreement. For 25 years, it has been met with resistance from civil society groups, farmers’ associations, and trade unions.

Since yesterday, Wednesday, the Islamist regime in Damascus has been attacking two districts of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. This is reported by the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), citing local sources. According to these sources, the districts of Sheikh Maksud and Ashafiye are being shelled with heavy artillery, tanks, rocket launchers, and combat drones. Meanwhile, 300 houses in these Kurdish-inhabited neighborhoods of Aleppo have been destroyed.

Six months after the historic complaint by Sámi reindeer herders from Finland was filed with the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) is renewing its call on the Finnish government to take the case as a wake-up call and respect the rights of the Sámi. Since the beginning of 2026, the complaint has been the subject of an ongoing review by the UN Human Rights Committee.

Following the US military attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) warns against the erosion of international law and criticizes the lack of a clear condemnation by the German government and the EU.

Shortly before Christmas, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) renewed its appeal to German politicians and the media to take seriously the threat posed by political Islam, especially to Christian communities, Alawites/Alevis, Druze, Yazidis, Bahá’ís, Mandaeans, and Jews.

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) fears that the Bolivian government’s decision to abolish fuel subsidies overnight will primarily affect indigenous communities and other marginalized population groups. Despite the announcement of social compensation measures, the human rights organization sees a considerable risk of social unrest and new protests.

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) and the non-governmental organization PowerShift have sharply criticized the German government’s approval of the EU-Mercosur agreement. Ahead of the vote in the EU Council scheduled for this week, the human rights organizations warn: The agreement secures profits and systematically outsources the social, ecological, and human rights costs. Indigenous Peoples in particular will suffer from the consequences,” fears Jan Königshausen, STP advisor on Indigenous Peoples.

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) calls on the German government to reject the watering down of the EU supply chain law in the upcoming vote in the EU Council. “The current draft law waters down the supply chain directive to such an extent that it becomes ineffective. Instead of protecting those affected by human rights violations and environmental destruction, most companies are exempted from the obligation to take responsibility for human rights violations along their supply chains,” criticizes Jan Königshausen, STP advisor on Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous communities in Chile will be on the losing side of the elections, regardless of the actual outcome of the presidential election on Sunday, December 14, fears the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP). An election victory for the far-right José Antonio Kast in particular would result in significant repression for Indigenous Peoples.